Cote d'Ivoire's striker Didier Drogba on Wednesday confirmed that he has joined Chinese football club Shanghai Shenhua on a two-year contract.

Cote d'Ivoire's striker Didier Drogba on Wednesday confirmed that he has joined Chinese football club Shanghai Shenhua on a two-year contract.

“I studied all the offers I have received in recent weeks and I feel that going to Shanghai Shenhua is the right direction for me now. I am looking forward to this new challenge, to discover a new culture and I am very enthusiastic about the development of the Chinese football league,” the former Chelsea striker said on his website.

He added that he will join the team in China’s financial hub next month, Xinhua reported.

Drogba, 34, will pair up with his former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka in the attacking line for Shanghai Shenhua.

No details were given on Shanghai's offer, but it is rumoured that the club will pay as much as $15 million per year.

Refs on AIFF rollsThe All India Football Federation has decided to kick off a Professional Refereeing Project, under which the referees will be on its payroll. It will offer professional contracts to three referees during the duration of I-League. The AIFF believes the initiative will help professionalisation of refereeing as a career.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu's CR Srikrishna was declared the Best Referee of the Season 2011/12.

Diame joins West HamSenegal midfielder Mohamed Diame has agreed to join Premier League new-boys West Ham on a free transfer from Wigan.

Diame has signed a three-year deal with the east London club, who were promoted via last season’s Championship play-offs.